NW Spring Meeting April 14 2009 It was a dark and stormy day and 60 stalwart women of the Episcopal churches of the northwest deanery braved the elements to join one another at Grace in Ocala. What a bright and joyous thing it was as they walked, dripping wet, into the parish hall and were greeted by bright white and yellow flowers everywhere! And the smells of hot cross buns and coffee quickly dried them as they hugged and greeted all their church sisters. It was a grand day!
Fr John was gracious to come up with a way for the women to get from the Parish Hall to the Sanctuary with the least amount of outside venturing--through the sacristy! He gave us a wonderful view of Mary Magdaline that we had probably not thought of before.
Don Hires, manager of grief care for Hospice, is a speaker who will keep you spellbound with his stories of the saints he's encountered in his career. He brought laughter and tears to our eyes, and awakened our senses to the peace and grace found in those around us.
The women of Grace provided a tasty chicken casserole lunch with so many goodies that we forgot all about the weather outside. By the time we left, the skies had cleared, cooled, but cleared.
Churches shared their programs and projects and as an added bonus, Sister Catherine, Society of Our Lord, from St Anne, provided us with an insight into her local order of nuns, comprised of older women.
Churches were reminded of their Gifts of Support and its use, reminded to submit events and items for the website, and call upon one another when they needed help or reassurance.
Lastly but not least, the host church for 2010 volunteered! Thank you St Thomas of Eustis!